Virginia Commonwealth University
VCUDepartment Name
  
 
Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD)

Curriculum

- Core Courses and entry degree
- Proposed course sequence
Students Entering With a MS (43cr.) Students Entering With a BS (55cr.)
Theory and Practice Foundations Core
OCCT 671: Advanced Theory in OT (4cr) OCCT 671: Advanced Theory in OT (4cr)
OCCT 672: Dimensions of Occupation (4cr) OCCT 672: Dimensions of Occupation (4cr)
OCCT 673: Health Care Delivery and OT Practice Models (3cr) OCCT 673: Health Care Delivery and OT Practice Models (3cr)
  OCCT 685: Advanced Clinical Reasoning: Asking the Right questions (3cr)
  OCCT 686: Advanced Clinical Reasoning: Application (3cr)
Total: 11 Credits Total: 17 Credits
Research and Scientific Foundations Core
OCCT 656: Advanced Neuroscience Applications to OT (4cr) OCCT 656: Advanced Neuroscience Applications to OT (4cr)
OCCT 710: Quantitative Research Process (4cr) OCCT 710: Quantitative Research Process (4cr)
OCCT 711: Research Process in OT: Qualitative Methods (3cr) OCCT 711: Research Process in OT: Qualitative Methods (3cr)
OCCT 735: Evidence Bases for OT Practice (3cr) OCCT 735: Evidence Bases for OT Practice (3cr)
Total: 14 Credits Total: 14 Credits
Leadership Core
OCCT 736: Developing Fundable Projects (3cr) OCCT 736: Developing Fundable Projects (3cr)
OCCT 740: Concepts in Leadership for OT (3cr) OCCT 740: Concepts in Leadership for OT (3cr)
OCCT 741: Leadership Applications for OT (3cr) OCCT 741: Leadership Applications for OT (3cr)
OCCT 742: Capstone Project: Practicum in Leadership (4cr) OCCT 742: Capstone Project: Practicum in Leadership (4cr)
OCCT 743: Synthesis and Evaluation of Capstone Project (2cr) OCCT 743: Synthesis and Evaluation of Capstone Project (2cr)
Total: 15 Credits Total: 15 Credits
Electives
Total: 3 credits Total: 9 credits


Proposed course sequence (subject to change)
Term MS Entry Students - 43 credits BS Entry Students - 55 credits
Summer   685 Clinical Reasoning: Asking the Right Questions (3)
    Total Credits 3
     
Fall 1 671 Advanced Theory in OT (4) 671 Advanced Theory in OT (4)
  710 Quantitative Research Process (4) 710 Quantitative Research Process (4)
  Total Credits 8 Total Credits 8
     
Spring 1 736 Developing Fundable Projects (3) 736 Developing Fundable Projects (3)
  740 Concepts in Leadership for Occupational Therapists (3) 740 Concepts in Leadership for Occupational Therapists (3)
  Total Credits 6 Total Credits 6
     
Summer 1 656 Advanced Neuroscience: Application in OT (4) 656 Advanced Neuroscience: Application in OT (4)
    686 Clinical Reasoning Application (3) Elective (3)
  Total Credits 4 Total Credits 7
     
Fall 2 672 Dimensions of Occupation (4) 672 Dimensions of Occupation (4)
  741 Leadership Applications for Occupational Therapists (3) 741 Leadership Applications for Occupational Therapists (3)
  Total Credits 7 Total Credits 7
     
Spring 2 735 Evidence Bases for Occupational Therapy Practice (3) 735 Evidence Bases for Occupational Therapy Practice (3)
  711 Research Process in Occupational Therapy: Qualitative Methods (3) 711 Research Process in Occupational Therapy: Qualitative Methods (3)
  Total Credits 6 Total Credits 6
     
Summer 2 Elective (3) Elective (3)
    Elective (3)
  Total Credits 3 Total Credits 6
     
Fall 3 742 Capstone Project: Practicum in Leadership (4) 742 Capstone Project: Practicum in Leadership (4)
    Elective (3)
  Total Credits 4 Total Credits 7
     
Spring 3 673 Health Care Delivery and Occupational Therapy Practice Models (3) 673 Health Care Delivery and Occupational Therapy Practice Models (3)
  743 Synthesis & Evaluation Capstone Leadership Project (2) 743 Synthesis & Evaluation Capstone Leadership Project (2)
  Total Credits 5 Total Credits 5

Curriculum Integration
The relationship between the Core groups of this curriculum is depicted in Figure 1 below. Research/Scientific Foundations Core and Theory/Practice Foundations Core courses form pillars for the Leadership Core. The link between the two foundation cores is the ability to critically assess and integrate a clinical framework. The Leadership Core and associated Capstone Leadership Project form the bridge between the two foundation pillars, linking foundations to leadership within the profession.

Figure 1: Curriculum Integration
  Capstone Leadership Project  
Like the stone arches of antiquity whose design has withstood the test of time, leadership is seen to effectively "Bridge the Gap", uniting the scientific foundations of Research in the profession and the theoretical foundations of Clinical Practice. In architecture the capstone or keystone is important structurally. It marks the apex and the visual completion of the arch. The OTD program will culminate with the Capstone Leadership Project.

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